A Way with Words and Images

Transcription

1 Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Ressources humaines et Développement des compétences Canada Now and Tomorrow Excellence in Everything We Do A Way with Words and Images Suggestions for the portrayal of people with disabilities ISSD E

2 Every day, Canadians rely on programs and services provided by the Government of Canada. To find out more about Government of Canada services for you: CALL O-Canada ( ), Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Eastern Time. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our TTY number: CLICK on servicecanada.gc.ca If you don t have access to the Internet, call O-Canada to find out where there is free Internet access in your community. VISIT a Service Canada Centre. Call O-Canada to find a centre near you, or go to servicecanada.gc.ca and click on Find Services Where You Live. This guide is also available in large print, on audio cassette, in braille, or on computer diskette by calling O-Canada. Ce document est également disponible en français sous le titre Le pouvoir des mots et des images. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2006 Cat. No.: HS4-25/2006E ISBN: X

3 Introduction People with disabilities are asking Canadians, and the media in particular, to use respectful terms when writing and speaking about them or about issues that affect their lives. They are also asking that images chosen to portray them be respectful and not reinforce outdated stereotypes. Attitudes can be the most difficult barrier people with disabilities face in achieving full integration, acceptance, and participation in society. Since words are a mirror of society s attitudes and perceptions, we should all put great thought into how we present information about people with disabilities, to help overcome negative attitudes and shape positive ones. Language use is changing as people with disabilities achieve equality, independence, and full participation in all aspects of Canadian society. We can ensure they reach these goals by using proper words and images, and by changing the ways in which issues are reported. Purpose This booklet seeks to promote a fair and accurate portrayal of people with disabilities. It recommends current and appropriate terminology to help you reach this goal. 1

4 Content This booklet has two sections and a removable insert. The first section, General guidelines, has information on terminology and images that relate to people with disabilities. The second section, Media coverage of people with disabilities, (see p. 4) deals with how the media should approach the issue. In addition, the removable centrefold lists appropriate terminology and images. General guidelines It is important to remember that words have a precise meaning and are not interchangeable. The following guidelines suggest appropriate terminology to use when speaking or referring to people with disabilities. A disability is a functional limitation or restriction of an individual s ability to perform an activity. The word disabled is an adjective, not a noun. People are not conditions. It is therefore preferable not to use the term the disabled but rather people with disabilities. Avoid categorizing people with disabilities as either super-achievers or tragic figures. Choose words that are non-judgmental, non-emotional, and are accurate descriptions. Avoid using brave, courageous, inspirational, or other similar words to describe a person with a disability. Remember 2

5 that the majority of people with disabilities have similar aspirations as the rest of the population, and that words and images should reflect their inclusion in society, except where social isolation is the focal point. Avoid references that cause discomfort, guilt, pity, or insult. Words like suffers from, stricken with, afflicted by, patient, disease, or sick suggest constant pain and a sense of hopelessness. While this may be the case for some individuals, a disability is a condition that does not necessarily cause pain or require medical attention. Avoid words such as burden, incompetent, or defective, which suggest that people with disabilities are inferior and should be excluded from activities generally available to people without disabilities. The centrefold in this guide contains more terms pertaining to people with disabilities. People with disabilities are comfortable with the terminology used to describe daily living activities. People who use wheelchairs go for walks, people with visual impairments see what you mean, and so on. A disability may just mean that some things are done in a different manner, but that doesn t mean the words used to describe the activity must be different. Remember that, although some disabilities are not visible, it does not mean they are less real. Individuals with invisible disabilities such as epilepsy, 3

6 hemophilia, and mental health and learning or developmental disabilities also encounter barriers and negative attitudes. Focus on the issue rather than the disability. If the disability is not relevant to the context, it is not necessary to report it. Media coverage of people with disabilities When writing an article or reporting on people with disabilities, ensure that the words you use are factual, objective, and inclusive. Don t hesitate to seek advice from organizations of people with disabilities on how to report on, discuss, and write about disability. Researching, writing, and reporting Too often, when a person with a disability is featured in a story that has several possible angles, the humaninterest story line dominates (e.g., how the individual has overcome great odds). There is less in-depth coverage of issues of particular importance to people with disabilities, such as lack of physical access to facilities, employment, and poverty, and people with disabilities are seldom asked for their views on stories dealing with issues such as transportation, the environment, or child care. Be particularly careful with terminology in titles or headlines, since they make the first impression. 4

7 Interviewing Before the interview, ask yourself: Am I reporting on this piece because it involves a person with a disability or because the issue and related circumstances are relevant to the general population? If it did not involve a person with a disability, would I still want to write it? Is a reference to a disability necessary to the story?" Follow these suggestions to improve communications with persons with disabilities. It is appropriate to shake hands when introduced to a person with a disability. People with limited hand use or who wear an artificial limb do shake hands. When talking with a person with a disability, speak directly to him or her, rather than through a companion, interpreter, or intervenor who may be there. Relax. Be yourself. Don t be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted, common expressions such as See you later or Got to be running along that seem to relate to the person s disability. Offer assistance to a person with a disability if you feel like it, but wait until your offer is accepted before you help. Listen to any instructions the person may want to give. Be considerate of the extra time it might take for a person with a disability to get things done or said. Let the person set the pace in walking and talking. 5

8 Avoid putting a person with a disability on a pedestal and using patronizing terms. Interview a person with a disability as you would any other person. In visual treatments (e.g., television and photographs), do not dwell on technical aids or adaptive devices unless, of course, the purpose is to introduce or discuss a particular aid or device. After the interview, ask yourself: Have I used the correct terminology (e.g., uses a wheelchair and not confined to a wheelchair )? Is this piece accurate and unbiased? Have I avoided sensationalism? Conclusion Words and images are a powerful tool in shaping society s attitudes and perceptions about people with disabilities. However, despite the progress achieved in recent years, negative stereotypes still exist. The media can help overcome these by continuing to cover disability-related issues in an accurate, objective, and inclusive manner. Society must do everything in its power to eliminate remaining prejudices and stereotypes. Choosing words and images that help shape positive attitudes will promote the person rather than the disability. 6

9 References ARCH Disability Law Centre. Guidelines for Reporting and Writing About People with Disabilities. ARCH Alert, volume 4, number 7. Editors Association of Canada, Editing Canadian English. Government of Canada. Department of Public Works and Government Services, Translation Bureau. Glossary of Terms Pertaining to Disabled Persons. Government of Canada. House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Disabled Persons. No News is Bad News. Government of Canada. Department of the Secretary of State of Canada. Status of Disabled Persons Secretariat. Worthless or Wonderful: The Social Stereotyping of Persons with Disabilities. Government of Ontario. Office for Disabled Persons. Word Choices. A lexicon of preferred terms for disability issues. Interep Research Division. Persons with disabilities and the Advertising community. National Easter Seal Society. Portraying People with Disabilities. Chicago, Illinois. North Carolina Office on Disability and Health. Accessible Communication. 7

15 Appropriate words Instead of... Birth defect, congenital defect, deformity Please use... Person born with a disability, person who has a congenital disability Blind (the), visually impaired (the) Person who is blind, person with a visual impairment Confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound Person who uses a wheelchair, wheelchair user Cripple, crippled, lame Person with a disability, person with a mobility impairment, person who has a spinal cord injury, arthritis, etc. Hard of hearing (the), hearing impaired Person who is hard of hearing Note: These individuals are not deaf and may compensate for a hearing loss with an amplification device or system.

16 A Way wi and Im Instead of... Deaf-mute, deaf and dumb Epileptic (the) Fit, attack, spell Please use... Person who is deaf Note: Culturally-linguistically deaf people (that is, sign language users) are properly identified as the Deaf (upper-case D ). People who do not use sign language are properly referred to as the deaf (lower-case d ) or persons who are deaf. Person who has epilepsy Seizure Handicapped (the) Person with a disability Handicapped parking, bathrooms Inarticulate, incoherent Accessible parking, accessible bathrooms Person who has a speech disorder, person who has a speech disability

17 th Words ages Instead of... Insane (unsound mind), lunatic, maniac, mental patient, mentally diseased, mentally ill, neurotic, psychotic Invalid Please use... Person with a mental health disability Note: The term insane (unsound mind) should only be used in a strictly legal sense. The expression person with a mental health disability is broad. If relevant to the story, you can specify the type of disability, for example, person who has depression or person who has schizophrenia. Person with a disability Learning disabled, learning disordered, dyslexic (the) Mentally retarded, defective, feeble minded, idiot, imbecile, moron, retarded, simple, mongoloid Person with a learning disability Person with an intellectual disability Note: If relevant to the story, specify the type of disability.

18 Instead of... Normal Please use... Person without a disability Person who has trouble Physically challenged, physically handicapped, physically impaired Spastic Suffers from, stricken with, afflicted by Person who needs Person with a disability Person who has spasms Person with a disability Note: People with disabilities do not necessarily suffer. Victim of cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc. Person who has cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, etc. Person with a mobility impairment, person with a disability Appropriate images Use images that show people with disabilities participating in society. Do not use images that isolate or call special attention to people with disabilities unless they are appropriate to the subject matter. Use actors or models with disabilities to portray people with disabilities. Present the typical individual who has a disability, rather than depicting him or her as a super-achiever.

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